Why Some Families Avoid Church

Ah, the Weekly Church Service A time to serve, worship, contemplate a truth-filled sermon, regain God’s peace and joy, catch up with friends. A time to refresh, recharge, reconnect… Unfortunately, for many foster and adoptive families, the idea of attending church surfaces only feelings of anxiety, judgment and rejection. Why? Well There’s... The child who sees only a scary room packed full of loud strangers with coffee breath and intensely-colored wardrobes because he experiences sensory disorders due to past trauma  The child who perceives children’s ministry drop-off as a scary separation from new parents she’s not yet learned will always come back The child who is devastated by yet another rejection by peers and even adult leaders when his behaviors and abilities don’t match the norm The child who hears insensitive questions and comments like “Why can’t he live with his own parents?” or “She’s so lucky you took her in!” and feels unworthy, embarrassed and angry about another invasion of privacy The parents who decide church isn’t such a safe place for their child as it only brings out fear, anxiety, over-stimulation, acting-out and repeated rejection for their child The parents who decide church just isn’t a safe place for their family in the wake of judgment, pity, rejection or being put on a pedestal that’s teetering dangerously close to disaster So, How Can Support Team Members Help Create a Welcoming, Supportive Church Environment?  Teach a workshop, post a web-article or provide weekly e-tips on understanding, loving and caring for foster and adoptive kids and parents. Find ideas in past Support Team Newsletters Model sensitivity when speaking about foster care, adoption and the families involved Build a “Buddy” program in which trained volunteers provide the supports and attention a child needs to be successful at church. If a child does not have a "Buddy," be willing to spend time with the child so the parents may attend services Provide transportation for siblings to attend church services and activities when mom and dad need to remain home with a struggling child Create a Sensory Room where children (and adults) with sensory disorders can worship and learn without anxiety-inducing distractions Volunteer to spend time with a child so the parents may go out to lunch with friends after church Provide a resource list of books, blogs and videos to help others understand the impact of trauma, grief and loss Provide a family-room worship experience. This could be a video-feed into a family-friendly room at church or joining the family for a live-stream of the service into their own family room LEARN MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT A FAMILY.

TBRI Workshop at Holt-Sunnyridge

Early Registration is now open for our TBRI® Workshops! EXCITING NEWS! TBRI ® early registration is now open for all 4 workshops! Dates for the workshops are:  September 19: Introduction and Overview October 17: Connecting November 14: Empowering December 12: Correcting Only 30 spots available per workshop or module! Developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross at the TCU Institute of Child Development, Trust-Based Relational Interventions® (TBRI®) is an emerging intervention model for a wide range of childhood behavioral problems. TBRI® is based on a solid foundation of neuropsychological theory and research, tempered by humanitarian principles. It is a family-based intervention that is designed for children who have experienced relationship-based traumas such as: *Institutionalization *Multiple foster placements *Maltreatment *Neglect For the past ten years, Drs. Purvis and Cross have been implementing and evaluating TBRI®, and their strategies have proven extremely effective in creating healing environments for children who have come from "hard places." The parent workshops will be led by Pam Shepard, LCSW and Supervisor of Post Adoption Services at Holt-Sunny Ridge Children's Services.  Pam trained under Dr. Purvis and Dr. Cross in Texas and is a TBRI ® Educator. Co-leading with Pam will be Shelly Roy from the University of Chicago Adoption Center. She is an LCSW, TBRI ® Educator and adoptive parent. Register for the upcoming series by clicking below:   IL License #529708

Safe Families Volunteer Training at Willow Creek

Safe Families for Children and Willow Creek Community Church Present:

The Greater Chicago Volunteer Training Day

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Prospective Safe Families, you're invited to a live, accelerated Comprehensive Training Session. 

Offered as an alternative to online training, this event is designed to equip you to welcome a child into your home (Host Family) or support a host or placing parent (Family Friend) and move you through the training process efficiently. The live Comprehensive Training Session includes everything you need to become a certified Safe Family Volunteer—all in one place. 

• Start or submit your application
• Get fingerprints taken for the background check
• Complete your training hours
• Meet like-minded families who will support you

The training will be in two parts.  The first two hours will be for all volunteers.  The second two hours will be for Host Families.  So, anyone interested in being a Family Friend only needs to stay for the first two hours.  Host Families need to stay for the whole training.

Doors open at 8:30 AM for those who need to start an application, schedule a home study, start a background check, or ask one-on-one questions.  The training session begins at 9:00 AM sharp.  The training will be held at the So. Barrington Campus in room B207.

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. There will also be a variety of special giveaways throughout the training session you won't want to miss!

Free Parking is available.  

REGISTER HERE

Reserve your spot today! We look forward to seeing you on July 18th to equip and encourage you in your journey.

If you have further questions please contact Sarah Mohr, 773-653-2222, or smohr@safefamilies.net    www.safe-families.org

Have questions about Live Host Family Training Day - Willow Creek Community Church? Contact the organizer

Adoptee Reading Resource

 

Adoptee Reading Resource is a new site designed to catalog and promote books written by adoptees and other adoption-related books recommended by adoptees.


A blogger, an adoptee and an editor and columnist for Lost Daughters, Karen Pickell created Adoptee Reading Resource to be the go-to site for books of interest to adopted people.




"First and foremost, we feature books written by adoptees themselves. Many of these are about adoption, but adoptees are also writing great books that have nothing obviously to do with adoption in any way. We list these titles as well, because we believe adoptees have a unique perspective on life in general. We also link to reviews written by adult adoptees for every title for which we can find them. We do this because we believe adoptees are the best authority on the relevance of any book for adoptees."

To learn more about materials written and reviewed by adoptees, please visit adopteereading.com.

Wednesday, July 22  |  1:00 PM (Central) "Replicable Models of Transition to Family-Based Care"      A growing number of CAFO organizations are pioneering new models that transition children from orphanages into family-based care.   Join us for a live discussion between three of these innovators and CAFO President Jedd Medefind.     Presenters include: Randy Daniels, Buckner International  Rebecca Nhep, ACCInternational Emily Heger, Akola Project   REGISTER HERE The Christian Alliance for Orphans Webinar Series is designed to help individuals like you create and grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry in local churches.  Each 60-minute webinar is free and will give local advocates access to the knowledge and experience of top Alliance member churches and organizations nationwide.

Fundraiser for CASA of McHenry County

The Service League of Crystal Lake invites you to a unique Farm to Table Experience. Some of the proceeds from this event will benefit CASA of McHenry County. For tickets please contact Laura Mills at dlmills5@aol.com or 815-893-0318.

Workshop: Building Sustainable Support Groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LUNCH & FREE CHILD CARE INCLUDED!

Register Here

 

Foster Families Need To Know Their Church Is Behind Them

That's why we're offering this 1-day workshop to equip churches and individuals to build sustainable support groups. 

If you want to learn how to support the foster & adoptive families in and outside your church, this workshop is for you. Whether you lead a group, a ministry, or a church or are interested in starting a new group, you will learn valuable insights about 

Recruiting Leadership  Preparing for Growth Group Management  Empowering Parents

• Funding Your Group 
• Preventing Burnout 
• Topics for Discussion 
• Organizing Volunteers

Safe Families Volunteer Training Day at Willow Creek

Safe Families for Children and Willow Creek Community Church Present:

The Greater Chicago Volunteer Training Day

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Prospective Safe Families, you're invited to a live, accelerated Comprehensive Training Session. 

Offered as an alternative to online training, this event is designed to equip you to welcome a child into your home (Host Family) or support a host or placing parent (Family Friend) and move you through the training process efficiently. The live Comprehensive Training Session includes everything you need to become a certified Safe Family Volunteer—all in one place. 

• Start or submit your application
• Get fingerprints taken for the background check
• Complete your training hours
• Meet like-minded families who will support you

The training will be in two parts.  The first two hours will be for all volunteers.  The second two hours will be for Host Families.  So, anyone interested in being a Family Friend only needs to stay for the first two hours.  Host Families need to stay for the whole training.

Doors open at 8:30 AM for those who need to start an application, schedule a home study, start a background check, or ask one-on-one questions.  The training session begins at 9:00 AM sharp.  The training will be held at the So. Barrington Campus in room B207.

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. There will also be a variety of special giveaways throughout the training session you won't want to miss!

Free Parking is available.  

REGISTER HERE

Reserve your spot today! We look forward to seeing you on July 18th to equip and encourage you in your journey.

If you have further questions please contact Sarah Mohr, 773-653-2222, or smohr@safefamilies.net

Have questions about Live Host Family Training Day - Willow Creek Community Church? Contact the organizer

Support Indigenous Adoption in Ukraine

"God bless every family who desires to adopt. It's an amazing ministry to children!"
-Slavic & Natasha, adoptive parents from Ukraine


Slavic & Natasha | An Adoption Story from Ukraine from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Slavic & Natasha adopted their daughter shortly before her 13th birthday. When they arrived home, they asked her what she wanted for her birthday. Her answer? "I have the biggest gift of all. I have a mama and a papa!" 

Alex & Tatiana's family

Alex & Tatiana adopted 2 boys from their local orphanage in 2009. In 2012 they adopted 3 girls with special needs. In April of this year they began the process to adopt 2 more boys.

 
"We totally understand the nature of the challenges ahead of us, but we need the Lord's mercy and support of our brothers and sisters along the way. Thank you for being the hands and feet of the Lord in supporting our journey.

This path is beyond our physical abilities but with God all things are possible."

Slavic & Natasha and Alex & Tatiana represent a growing number of families in Ukraine who are sensing the need and obeying the call of God on their lives to adopt.

Adoption Without Borders is an intentional program linking like-minded families and churches in the USA with Christian families in the Ukraine who are seeking to adopt. People from the USA with a heart for orphan care support families in Ukraine to adopt children from the Ukraine.

The system is already in place and working well. For over 7 years, the Lifesong Ukraine team has assisted couples in adopting (or life-long fostering) over 160 orphans. Excellent pre- and post-adoption training and support is in place and positive relationships with state-run orphanages, local government, district courts, and local churches in the Izume, Kharkov, and Zap regions of Ukraine are well established.

The goal of indigenous adoption in Ukraine is not only to recruit Christian families who God is calling to adopt, but to equip them as well. In many cases, Christians are able to equip Christians in other countries to adopt with fewer hurdles than Christians are able to internationally adopt.

"Love and care provided in a family surpasses it all. The biggest need of a child is to have a loving family." -- Slavic & Natasha

Please join us in praying for Adoption Without Borders and all the families like Slavic & Natasha and Alex & Tatiana in Ukraine and around the world who are working together to make this amazing partnership possible.

www.lifesongfororphans.org

Learn more about indigenous adoption in Ukraine

Connecting Healthy Timing & Spacing of Pregnancies & Orphans in the Devoloping Countries

(Photo: Reuters/Tim Shaffer)

 

 

By Jenny Eaton Dyer, PhD and Jedd Medefind , 

CP Guest Contributors

Christian Post
June 11, 2015

Those of us who care deeply about human needs often speak as if the one issue we're most passionate about stands alone: hunger, AIDS, poverty, governance, trafficking. We have fallen into that trap at times, too. But here's a vital truth we can't ignore: just beneath the surface, pressing human needs are intertwined. So any aid or development effort that fails to reflect this truth will most always fall flat.

Let's make this personal. Jedd Medefind leads the Christian Alliance for Orphans, working to see orphaned and vulnerable children well cared for around the globe, and Jenny Dyer directs the Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide and Senator Bill Frist, MD's Hope Through Healing Hands, which seeks to empower women in the developing world to better time and space their pregnancies.

Many would see these as widely differing undertakings. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Let's start with this question: "What causes a child to end up an orphan in the first place?" Of course, there are myriad roots to what UNICEF has called the "global orphan crisis" – from disease and disaster, to abuse by parents, to adults feeling forced by poverty to abandon their children. These vexing problems defy simple solutions, so caring for orphaned children will likely remain an immense need for decades to come.

But it is also clear that if these causal factors can be reduced, the number of future orphans can be significantly decreased. Consider the fact that pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls age 15-19 worldwide. Yet even small cultural shifts can alter this reality.

For example, the average age of marriage in Ethiopia is 16. Becoming pregnant between ages 15-19 creates twice the risk of death to a mother as becoming pregnant between 20-24. Likewise, if a mother becomes pregnant within two years of her previous delivery, she is more likely to die or have a miscarriage. Simply delaying pregnancy until age 20, and spacing pregnancies to two or more years apart, can greatly decrease maternal deaths.

Read more  HERE